I would like to know how many people actually have multiple m.2 drives. I typically just install a single drive and if I need additional storage, fallback to SATA.
I might have to pick up one of these and a Node 202 case or something for a small, compact gaming PC.
I bought the ASRock AB350M Pro4 specifically because it had two M.2 slots. (One supporting both PCIe and S-ATA and the other one only S-ATA.) This allows for one very fast system and application drive and one bigger and cheaper as video editing scratch disk. This keeps the number of cables lower. Airflow can probably be debated because on one hand M.2 drives may not get much air, but on the other hand S-ATA PCBs are enclosed and don't get much airflow either. Price-wise M.2 S-ATA drives are almost the same as 2.5" S-ATA drives. I wouldn't be surprised if M.2 got cheaper than S-ATA over time due to the size of the enclosure and packaging, but it's more likely mostly due to supply and demand.
In case of Node 202, the other m.2 slot would come in handy for expansion. I have the Asus z370i strix in it, and with a large gpu and non-modular psu, the hdd bracket would be a nuisance, and I am unsure if it would even fit. With storage-oriented (as compared to performance-oriented) nvme drives coming down in price, I would consider buying another nvme drive for expanded storage rather than a 2.5 inch ssd. At least in case of Node 202, that is.
m.2 drives have come down in price especially if you're going for a SATA m.2. Much more elegant, no cable clutter, and generally faster for a small price premium
For people going with even smaller new SFF cases than you're co, there might not even be an HDD bay at all making it m.2 or MacGyver for solid state drives.
I use 2 m.2 drives and wish I could use three, but there would be a performance hit for doing so. 1 for OS and all apps. 2nd for games and editing files. Sata drive for back up and photos.
I currently use 3 M.2 cards (2x PCIe M.2 & 1x Sata M.2) on the MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon. Got 1 PCIe M.2 in the top slot, the sata M.2 in the bottom, and an older PCIe M.2 in a M.2 PCIe x4 add-in adapter card (Akasa AK-PCCM2P-01). The latter is in the bottom PCIe x8 slot. The plan is to buy a 1TB PCIe M.2 that will go in the bottom M.2 slot and move the sata M.2 in the Akasa adapter. The card currently in the adapter is not enough for my games but will work just fine in a htpc.
One query: is it possible to connect multiple headphones using the back audio jacks? ( Without using any splitter or external DAC, just those 3.5mm ports) I just need stereo audio through each headphones, nothing fancy...
AFAIK no boards support this unless you've got a pair that can connect over the optical port (do these exist?). The various analog pins are to support separate location channels for surround sound, so if you plug in multiple headphones the audio controller will think you've got front, and center, or side, or etc speakers.
There are some boards that do have addressable audio ports so you can assign 2 ports to be audio out, but that's not very common. The simplest solution is to use a a splitter... $0.41 on Monoprice.com https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=7208
Its possible to to use the microphone jack as the headphones jack.. If u use realtek audio controller software.. Not sure if it can actually work.. But i have successfully done it with my laptop also.. Drawback is the any other port will have a little tinny sound
That motherboard box has the weirdest looking car on it. Don't those flat bench things on posts go on the back of a car and not the front and the headlights are really close together. Its almost like a flying motorcycle, but it has too many wheels for that.
> "Sadly, I was unable to get the included disk to launch to its loading screen on any PC in my house. [.....]For the record, this isn't the first time we I have run across the phenomenon, but do believe it was another board partner who's disk wouldn't work properly."
Sadly this happened with my Z270 Mortar from MSI too. The disk simply didnt run in any configuration other than accessing the raw files from explorer. Seemed to be problem with their on disk cd drivers but I didnt test that for validity.
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eek2121 - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
I would like to know how many people actually have multiple m.2 drives. I typically just install a single drive and if I need additional storage, fallback to SATA.I might have to pick up one of these and a Node 202 case or something for a small, compact gaming PC.
AdditionalPylons - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
I bought the ASRock AB350M Pro4 specifically because it had two M.2 slots. (One supporting both PCIe and S-ATA and the other one only S-ATA.) This allows for one very fast system and application drive and one bigger and cheaper as video editing scratch disk. This keeps the number of cables lower. Airflow can probably be debated because on one hand M.2 drives may not get much air, but on the other hand S-ATA PCBs are enclosed and don't get much airflow either.Price-wise M.2 S-ATA drives are almost the same as 2.5" S-ATA drives. I wouldn't be surprised if M.2 got cheaper than S-ATA over time due to the size of the enclosure and packaging, but it's more likely mostly due to supply and demand.
katsetus - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
In case of Node 202, the other m.2 slot would come in handy for expansion. I have the Asus z370i strix in it, and with a large gpu and non-modular psu, the hdd bracket would be a nuisance, and I am unsure if it would even fit. With storage-oriented (as compared to performance-oriented) nvme drives coming down in price, I would consider buying another nvme drive for expanded storage rather than a 2.5 inch ssd. At least in case of Node 202, that is.Hxx - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
m.2 drives have come down in price especially if you're going for a SATA m.2. Much more elegant, no cable clutter, and generally faster for a small price premiumDanNeely - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
For people going with even smaller new SFF cases than you're co, there might not even be an HDD bay at all making it m.2 or MacGyver for solid state drives.Gothmoth - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link
i have 3 x 1TB drives. in my TR system.Dug - Sunday, August 26, 2018 - link
I use 2 m.2 drives and wish I could use three, but there would be a performance hit for doing so.1 for OS and all apps. 2nd for games and editing files. Sata drive for back up and photos.
NobodyYouKnow - Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - link
I currently use 3 M.2 cards (2x PCIe M.2 & 1x Sata M.2) on the MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon. Got 1 PCIe M.2 in the top slot, the sata M.2 in the bottom, and an older PCIe M.2 in a M.2 PCIe x4 add-in adapter card (Akasa AK-PCCM2P-01). The latter is in the bottom PCIe x8 slot.The plan is to buy a 1TB PCIe M.2 that will go in the bottom M.2 slot and move the sata M.2 in the Akasa adapter. The card currently in the adapter is not enough for my games but will work just fine in a htpc.
prateekprakash - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
One query: is it possible to connect multiple headphones using the back audio jacks? ( Without using any splitter or external DAC, just those 3.5mm ports)I just need stereo audio through each headphones, nothing fancy...
DanNeely - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
AFAIK no boards support this unless you've got a pair that can connect over the optical port (do these exist?). The various analog pins are to support separate location channels for surround sound, so if you plug in multiple headphones the audio controller will think you've got front, and center, or side, or etc speakers.StraightPipe - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
There are some boards that do have addressable audio ports so you can assign 2 ports to be audio out, but that's not very common. The simplest solution is to use a a splitter... $0.41 on Monoprice.comhttps://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=7208
vivekvs1992 - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link
Its possible to to use the microphone jack as the headphones jack.. If u use realtek audio controller software.. Not sure if it can actually work.. But i have successfully done it with my laptop also.. Drawback is the any other port will have a little tinny soundPeachNCream - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link
That motherboard box has the weirdest looking car on it. Don't those flat bench things on posts go on the back of a car and not the front and the headlights are really close together. Its almost like a flying motorcycle, but it has too many wheels for that.DanNeely - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link
I think that is supposed to be the back end of a car with a pair of rocket engines. Still utterly ridiculous though.PeachNCream - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link
Oh, I see what you mean. I should have looked closer at it. And yeah, it does still look ridiculous even if that is the back of a car.Gothmoth - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link
z390 version incoming....MadAd - Saturday, August 25, 2018 - link
> "Sadly, I was unable to get the included disk to launch to its loading screen on any PC in my house. [.....]For the record, this isn't the first time we I have run across the phenomenon, but do believe it was another board partner who's disk wouldn't work properly."Sadly this happened with my Z270 Mortar from MSI too. The disk simply didnt run in any configuration other than accessing the raw files from explorer. Seemed to be problem with their on disk cd drivers but I didnt test that for validity.
cemllyrios - Thursday, January 17, 2019 - link
ITX cases have been around in no bigger than the mobo size cases from the beginning. The trend there's actually the other direction.